Deborah (Conway) Pinilla

Sumter, SC .......... Deborah Conway Pinilla, age 78, beloved wife of 53 years to Dr. Osmar A. Pinilla, passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Providence, RI, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Arthur Conway and Evelyn Mabel Trementozzi.  Debbie began her career as a registered nurse in the labor and delivery unit.  She would later start the first childbirth education class in the Sumter community.  In 1991, Debbie was asked to take over teaching the Spanish classes at Wilson Hall School.  What started out as a temporary job would turn into a 22-year career.  In addition to teaching Spanish, she also served as the cheerleading advisor.  Debbie had a heart for children and poured her life into them with every opportunity. She also enjoyed photography, visiting the beach, and attending her grandchildren’s activities.   A strong woman of faith, Debbie was a member of St. Anne and St. Jude Roman Catholic Church.  She was also a member of Community Bible Study for the past nine years.  She will be remembered as a devoted and loving wife, mother, Abuelita, sister and friend.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Joseph Anthony Pinilla and wife Tara of Spartanburg, SC; two daughters, Kristen Pinilla Griffin and husband Jeff of Columbia, SC, and Caroline Pinilla Brown and husband Kevin of Sumter, SC; a sister, Dorinne Persing of Kingsport, TN; seven grandchildren, Anna Porter, Liza Griffin, Virginia Griffin, Rachel Griffin, Savannah Pinilla, Grayson Pinilla, and Alice Pinilla, three step-grandchildren, Dalton Brown, Drake Brown, and Drew Brown, and her beloved dog Rafa.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by a brother and a sister.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Bullock Funeral Home.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 11:00 am in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Henderson officiating.  A private family interment will follow the service in the St. Lawrence Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Dr. Joe Collins and Mary Baird, NP and all of the South Carolina Oncology Associates, Sumter staff for their excellent care. Also, thank you to Amedisys Hospice care especially Barbie and Sabrina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Wilson Hall School, 520 Wilson Hall Rd. Sumter, 29150.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deborah (Conway) Pinilla, please visit our floral store.